Part-time Research & Program Assistant

foundry10 is an education research organization with a philanthropic focus on expanding ideas about learning and creating direct value for youth. Candidates must live in Washington State as there is a portion of in-person work required. However, not all hours for the position will require in-person attendance, and candidates would be welcome to work hybrid in-person at the office and remotely as needed.

Summary of Role

Our Research Team collaborates with educators, industry professionals, young people, and other researchers to conduct research to advance understanding of the learning process, support practitioners, and empower learning communities to create value for youth. We are currently seeking a part-time, temporary Research & Program Assistant to support the research within the Career-Connected Learning and Life Skills team (CCLLS).

The Research & Program Assistant on the CCLLS team has two main roles. The first is as a Research Assistant, working on projects that investigate education-to-career pathways, youth thinking & voice, and work-based learning & skills acquisition. The second is as a Program Assistant, for a partially in-person program that will run every Saturday afternoon from the second week of January through the end of June, providing co-facilitation for the program and acting as back-up for the primary facilitator. The program provides high school-aged youth with hands-on research experience creating and implementing their own research project and learning about research as a career.

The Research & Program Assistant will provide hands-on support to one or more of our research projects. Primary responsibilities will involve supporting in the preliminary stages of research development including literature review, drafting the IRB proposal for human subjects research, developing a recruitment plan for student participants, and drafting data collection protocols and instruments. Supporting aspects of data analysis tasks like data management and preparation (e.g., data entry, data cleaning), data analysis (e.g., descriptive statistical analysis, qualitative coding), and sharing results through written reports and other relevant mediums may also be required. Exact responsibilities will vary by project.

This is a part-time, temporary position with variable hours of 8-15 hours per week, with an anticipated start date in mid-October and an end date of July 29, 2027. This position offers a rate of $33/hr and opportunities for professional development through hands-on research on a cross-functional team.

Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities will vary based on project, but may include the following:

• Provide support through the conception and implementation of research projects, including:
  • Research background and literature review
  • IRB writing
• Assist with data collection planning
  • Design of a recruitment plan for engaging student participants in research
  • Coordinate with school administrators, teachers, and parents to gather consent and schedule data collection times
  • Design of survey and other research tools
• Provide support during data collection
  • Assist with running and monitoring study activities
• Provide support throughout the analysis portion of a research process, including:
  • Data management and preparation (e.g., data entry, data cleaning)
  • Data analysis (e.g., descriptive statistical analysis, qualitative coding)
  • Sharing results through written reports and other relevant mediums
• Participate in project team meetings
• Use project management software to track project-related tasks and schedules
• Co-Facilitation duties:
  • Co-facilitate workshops to help participants build research skills
  • Co-facilitate community building activities and team check-ins
  • Step in as the back-up facilitator in the case that the primary facilitator is unable to attend

Education and Experience

Required experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in education, nonprofit management, public administration, or a related field
• 2+ years experience facilitating programming with high school-aged students from diverse backgrounds, including those who may be disengaged from school
• Experience coordinating administrative or program logistics, including scheduling, communication tracking, and event or meeting support
• Overall familiarity with the research process
• Competence with Google Suite
• Ability to organize and prioritize competing tasks and projects
• Communication skills to collaborate with team members in a fast-paced environment
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and in a hybrid team environment
• Understanding of various emerging educational technologies used in K-12 settings

Preferred experience

• Experience with qualitative and/or ethnographic research (e.g., interviews, focus groups, community of practice, participatory action research, ethnography)
• Experience working on the research process in some form (e.g., curriculum-related project, working in a faculty member’s lab)
• Experience with synthesizing information from literature reviews
• Experience with children and/or youth, preferably in a research or education setting
• Demonstrated ability to professionally engage with diverse groups (e.g. parents, teachers, school administrators) through various communication channels (email, phone, in-person)

Other Requirements

• We are running a project from January through the end of June that will require working Saturdays in the afternoon for 2-3 hours
• Outside of that, ability to maintain a consistent work schedule of 6-13 hours per week from Monday through Thursday, with specific hours to be determined. Some flexibility is possible, but it is preferable for Research & Program Assistants to have a relatively stable schedule (that can be changed between school terms)

We are not able to sponsor visa applications. To be considered for this position, you must be eligible to work in the United States.

To protect our staff, partners, and the youth we serve, we require all foundry10 employees to adhere to our masking and COVID testing policies when working in person.

To be considered for this position, submit your resume or CV along with a cover letter. In your cover letter, please include how this role would support your current educational or professional goals.

Applications will not be reviewed without a cover letter.

The priority deadline for applications is September 23rd, and we will accept applications on a rolling basis after this date.

Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs. foundry10 strives to provide a work environment free from discrimination and harassment because of a protected characteristic. The organization does not discriminate against employees or applicants based on race, color, creed, citizenship, status, national origin, ancestry, gender, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, age, religion, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to assist individuals with disabilities with the application and interviewing process as well as essential job functions.